Two die after deadly ditch collapse in Al Ain buries them under the sand

Another fatal work place accident in the UAE sparks police warning as tragedy unfolds on a site in the Zafranah neighbourhood in Al Ain.

Two workers were killed when sand collapsed on them at the site of a drainage project in Al Ain. Courtesy Security Media

ABU DHABI // Two Asian workers died yesterday after the sand collapsed on them on the site of a drainage project in the Zafranah neighbourhood in Al Ain.

Brig Gen Hamad Ajlan Al Amimi, head of Al Ain Police Directorate, said the operations room at Al Ain police received a report about the sand collapse from an employee of the company in charge of the project.

Police, paramedics and Civil Defence were instantly dispatched to the accident site.

Both bodies of the deceased were recovered.

Brig Gen Al Amimi said investigations are still underway to find out the cause of the collapse.

Col Mohammed Ibrahim Al Ameri, head of emergency and public safety at Abu Dhabi Police, urged construction companies to take the necessary safety measures at construction sites to avoid any serious accidents, adding that sand and collapses of under-construction buildings are among the most serious accidents that might occur to workers.